Shhhh! Don’t tell.

A few weeks ago, I got a call on a Thursday to photograph a small wedding the following Saturday.  Yes, just two days later. I was told that they saw my ad on craigslist, which was only posted a few hours before the phone call.  Also, I never expected to get business from the craigslist ad, I just wanted to see, through the use of Google Analytics, how many people viewed my website after seeing my ad on craigslist (10 people that day went to my site from the craigslist ad, by the way).

Back to the wedding.

I was told that it was to be a very small, secretive ceremony and that I couldn’t post pictures from the event on my website. The time and place of the wedding wasn’t even revealed to me until just a few hours before I was supposed to arrive.   Apparently, the couple was eloping and didn’t want news of their wedding to be made public.  I was available and intrigued, so I agreed.

The site of the wedding had many scenic outdoor spots that would have been great for wedding photos if it hadn’t of been about 35 degrees outside and very windy, which it was.  Plan B was to photograph them in the private room where the ceremony was being held.  It was possible to shoot in there, but not ideal.  Plan C came about at the last minute.  There was a very nice, well-lit, creatively-designed restaurant a few doors down that was catering the bride, groom, and 2 friends (the only 4 people at the wedding other than myself, my assistant, and the minister that was also found on craigslist).  So, all the bride alone and groom alone photos were taken in the restaurant, which wasn’t open for dinner, yet.

The brief ceremony included a few words from the 2 guests and a few tears from all 4 participants.  As I was photographing the ceremony, I kept wondering about the circumstances that led to such an impromptu event.  I didn’t even know the bride and groom’s name, yet. Would I ever know?

The bride and groom photos were taken after the ceremony and that was it.  The photos were briefly posted on a password-protected website, just long enough for the bride to choose her favorite photos for her wedding album.  The wedding album has been designed and submitted to her for her approval.

Have they told anyone they’re married, yet?  Will I ever get to show the photos to go along with this story?  Will I ever know their story?

We’ll see.  Maybe.

Scott

Scott Housley Photography